UN Urges Iran, Russia, Turkey to resume Syria Talks in Astana

The UN has called on Iran, Russia and Turkey to convene a fresh round of peace talks between Damascus and opposition groups in Kazakhstan, to bring the situation on the ground under control amid increasing militant attempts to break into the heart of the Syrian capital in defiance of a countrywide truce.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura was speaking Friday on the sidelines of the fifth round of Syria peace talks in Geneva.

He further added that the UN was not expecting any breakthrough or breakdown at the ongoing indirect Syrian talks in Geneva, but “incremental progress” from previous rounds.

According to de Mistura, the negotiations in Astana could develop the political process of the settlement of the Syrian crisis. Since the beginning of this year, Iran, Russia and Turkey have mediated three rounds of peace negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition groups in Astana.